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Author Topic: Keeping cool in the summer  (Read 4818 times)

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Ari and Ingram

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Keeping cool in the summer
« on: April 08, 2010, 12:04:58 AM »

So here in Tennessee it is always so hot and humid during the summer! I want to make sure I am prepared and have what I need to keep my little Ingram nice and cool. Any tips or tricks or anything I need to buy to make sure he stays comfortable? Thanks
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Debbie.nl.ca

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Re: Keeping cool in the summer
« Reply #1 on: April 08, 2010, 09:08:42 AM »

If they have pans open to them they will clear a spot and sit on it.
You can put ceramic tiles in there cage, frozen glass bottles of water like Maison jars, and I have used clay flower pots too. Though some liked to chew on them so I gave that up.
You can even have several tiles and keep them in the fridge, so you can switch them out during the hottest days.
No a big problem here in my neck of the woods, we don't get hot  :doh: I wish we did. ::nod::
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jmdebb

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Re: Keeping cool in the summer
« Reply #2 on: April 08, 2010, 12:58:45 PM »

well deb you can have our weather.. i can not believe this but we are actually having summer weather right now. it should still be chilly or just a tad warm... heck we even have humidty..  can i just say YUK

anyways you can get those chin chillers. i leave the in all my cages all summer long.. i never did those other suggestions but they sound great!!!

another thing you can do, and i always just did this just to keep my house cooler..

in the summer when i leave for the day, i shut all my windows.. so when i get home at night, it's cool in the house.. if you leave the windows open it will be as hot inside as it is outside.. now it's not gonna be like the air conditioning was on, but it does make a big difference.
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Ari and Ingram

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Re: Keeping cool in the summer
« Reply #3 on: April 08, 2010, 02:53:41 PM »

I have a few chin chillers and freeze them and rotate them out he loves them. I like the frozen water in the jar idea. The chin chillers seem to get room temp so fast but I bet the jar would stay frozen longer. Is there anyway to keep the jar from sweating as it melts? I know water is good for their fur.
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Ladykelia

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Re: Keeping cool in the summer
« Reply #4 on: April 08, 2010, 09:53:35 PM »

I've never tried it, but you can probably wrap the jar in fleece or make a sleeve for it so it is still cool but the clothe would absorb most of the moisture. otherwise I doubt the amount of water from sweating would affect them much...
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Ari and Ingram

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Re: Keeping cool in the summer
« Reply #5 on: April 09, 2010, 12:51:22 AM »

Oh good idea! Ill try that and see how it goes!
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Jo Ann

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Re: Keeping cool in the summer
« Reply #6 on: April 09, 2010, 09:13:57 AM »

 ::silly::   CAUTION:  When using the Mason Jars ... fill it with ice cubes and/or 1/2 water, freeze it, then add ice cubes to finish filling it.  If you fill the jar more than 1/2 way full of water and then freeze it, it will often break the glass as it expans in the freezer.

The chins will often use the water/condensation that collects on the outside of the jar to drink.

If you want to, you can always cut an adults white tube sock and place it over the jar to help soak-up any condensation.

Be sure to use metal lids and close them tightly.

Chin-chillers can usually be frozen (except for granite ones), but storing them in the coolest part of the house will often work also.  I get the tiles in the flooring department of Lowes.  When I had 200+ chins I purchased 300 marble tiles from China someone else ordered, but they did not like them when they came in to pick them up ... I got a great deal on them, and I love the way they look.   :::grins::

 ::howdythere::  Jo Ann
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Maryclemom

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Re: Keeping cool in the summer
« Reply #7 on: April 09, 2010, 02:56:14 PM »

should there be some sort of cooler in her cage at all times? Right now, the only extra things I have in there are a hut thing, and obviously her food/water and timothy hay. We are from Chicago, so we have not had warm weather yet. She lives in our basement.

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Debbie.nl.ca

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Re: Keeping cool in the summer
« Reply #8 on: April 09, 2010, 04:44:49 PM »

Hang a thermometer up near their cages, one that reads humidity too is the best.
Mine are in my basement too and it always nice and cool.
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smokie

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Re: Keeping cool in the summer
« Reply #9 on: July 26, 2010, 04:31:14 PM »

I put a bag of smooth rocks in the freezer every night and pop them in the cage in the morning before I go to work... my chinchillas love them!

Haven't done it yet but the original plan was to fill a tin with frozen pebbles/stones so that the chinnies could loll about in it when it got hot.  There's some scientific reason for why rounded rocks will retain the cold for longer than a flat surface...

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z168

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Re: Keeping cool in the summer
« Reply #10 on: July 26, 2010, 05:47:26 PM »

I like the pebble idea
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Gallardo_Puff

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Re: Keeping cool in the summer
« Reply #11 on: August 22, 2010, 12:27:29 AM »

I am also going to make note of these chin chillers. I have never heard of them!
I just got my first chin, Gallardo, 2 days ago and I want to keep him happy. He has stolen my heart.

Question about these tiles:
Can you just get any type of tile from Lowes, Home Depot, ect to use or are there certain ones to stay away from?

Thanks,
Kassaundra
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Re: Keeping cool in the summer
« Reply #12 on: August 22, 2010, 08:10:55 AM »

In the end you will need AC chin coolers can help but will not keep a chinchilla alive for long. I live near chicago and the chinchillas have their own AC unit in the room it really is a must
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jrod1195

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Re: Keeping cool in the summer
« Reply #13 on: September 14, 2010, 05:15:56 PM »

If you have a chinchilla and you live in such extreme weather, you will have to buy an AC. I live in Connecticut and even though summer isn't too long, it's pretty hot. Not to mention the weather is totally wacky. a quick fix is would be a chin-chiller, but you would still need an AC. I wouldn't put it off.

http://www.petco.com/product/108717/Super-Pet-Chin-Chiller.aspx?CoreCat=OnSiteSearch

they chin-chillers are on sale online, I paid $10 for one.
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1newChinmom1

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Re: Keeping cool in the summer
« Reply #14 on: September 15, 2010, 08:51:24 AM »

We found an inexpensive air conditioner that also has a dehumidifier built in...nice!
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